Also known as “tholoi”, these Bronze Age burial structures (17th - 13th century BC) are characterized by the superposition of successively smaller rings of hewn stones.
The Palace of Nestor, the wise old king of Homeric fame, was unearthed in 1939, revealing more than 600 clay tablets inscribed with a mysterious script that has come to be known as Linear B, the first written language in history to use syllabic signs.
The cradle of the Olympic Games - first held in 776 BC, and a timeless shrine to the ideals of virtue, honor, peace and noble competition, ancient Olympia is a UNESCO World Heritage Site famous for its magnificent stadium.
Greece's first UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Temple of Apollo Epicurius at Bassae (420-400 BC) is the work of Ictinus, one of the principal
The city was built in 369 BC according to the Hippodamian grid system, so named after Hippodamus of Miletus, who conceived the idea that a town plan should reflect a rational and democratic social order. The massive fortification walls of Ancient Messene are among the best preserved in Greece and – according to Pausanias – were the strongest in antiquity.
Built around the 12th century this charming small church is the site of a “miraculous” phenomenon: 17 mature trees grow from the roof of the church with no roots visible either inside or outside the structure.
This imposing fortress, built by the Franks in the 13th century on the ruins of the acropolis of Ancient Pylos, occupies a strong defensive position on a rocky promontory.
Lying at the head of the Gulf of Messinia, the region’s capital – Kalamata – is dominated by the ruins of a 13th century Frankish castle built by Geoffrey de Villehardouin, which today overlooks the old quarter of the city.
Occupying a headland to the east of the modern town, this fine example of 13th century Venetian fortress architecture conceals an oasis of vegetation, a tranquil convent, quaint whitewashed houses and narrow cobblestone alleys..
This remarkable Byzantine monastery is said to have been founded in the 14th century by Emperor Andronicus IV Palaeologus. The main church houses rare icons and exquisite wall paintings.
Built on a hilltop by the Ottomans in 1573, this fortress with six towers and formidable walls for years guarded the southern approach to Pylos harbor.
This well preserved church, originally built as a mosque, is located within the Neokastro fortress, but is temporarily closed to visitors due to restoration work.
Protected by the sea on three sides, this well preserved castle is one of the most impressive medieval fortifications in Greece.
The Bay of Navarino was the scene of the famous naval battle in 1827 in which an allied British, French and Russian fleet defeated a combined Egyptian-Ottoman armada, marking a decisive turning point in the Greek War of Independence.
This impressive neoclassical residence in the center of Pylos houses the collection of French philhellene Rene Puaux (1878-1937), which includes maps, swords, pistols, medals and letters from the time of the Greek War of Independence.